HOUSING chiefs have made a £145m bid to the Government for funds to improve council homes.

The application was made to the Department for Communities and Local Government by Lewisham Homes.

Lewisham Homes is an organisation set up to manage and improve 17,260 council homes - 48 per cent of its housing stock.

It will be officially launched next January and will have a board of councillors, housing professionals and residents.

The aim of the bid is to get cash to improve council homes to reach the Government's Decent Homes Standard by 2012.

Cabinet member for customer services Councillor Susan Wise said: "This bid will give many residents in the borough not only the housing they deserve but also, through Lewisham Homes, more of a say in how their properties are managed."

The Government is expected to decide on the bid this autumn.